Lillian Shuey Picchione: Loving learning about Lovecraft

I recognized myself in David Brussat's Aug. 29 Commentary column ("H. P. Lovecraft returns to Providence"), when he observed that Lovecraft is "so little recognized in his home state."

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Posted Sep. 3, 2013 @ 8:55 am

I recognized myself in David Brussat's Aug. 29 Commentary column ("H. P. Lovecraft returns to Providence"), when he observed that Lovecraft is "so little recognized in his home state."

No longer. Recently, as I sat in Swan Point cemetery contemplating the memorial headstone recently installed for my mother, I saw four men scramble out of a black van. In their cargo shorts and matching black & neon t-shirts, they did not look much like the usual exercisers, history buffs, or mourners. When one pulled out a GPS mapping device, I couldn't help myself.

"I take it you aren't from around here?" I asked.

"No," he answered apologetically. "We came all the way up from Baltimore. We're looking for H. P. Lovecraft's grave. Do you know where it is?"

Over the next several minutes I learned about Necromicon, film adaptations, and the devotion of Lovecraft fans.

As they left, they apologized for disturbing me. But it was just the opposite. My mom would have gotten such a kick out of them.